Disclaimer: Pot doesn't belong to me. Too sad, isn't it?

Rating: T

Summary: His father threw him out. His only possibility going to his best friend. TakaFuji, Hints of Fujicest

A/N: English is not my first language; feel free to point out the mistakes I made.

Please read & review.

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When Fuji woke up, at first, he didn't remember where he was. The bed didn't seem to be as big as his and he felt something warm on his back. He tried to get up but he was unable to move. Two strong arms were encircling his waist.

He shifted his position and he was face to face with his best friend. Surprise painted itself on his face. It was soon replaced by a soft smile. It was the first time he saw his best friend asleep.

He had a peaceful expression and his face was buried in the pillow. Fuji kept staring at him. He saw a little wrinkle on his forehead. Kawamura must be thinking about their next match. Fuji knew he was anxious about the next round of the Kantou championship. He wanted to smooth it. He reached for his friend's forehead and rubbed it with his fingers.

This slight touch made Kawamura stir. He loosened his grip allowing Fuji to break free. He sat on the mattress, his cerulean eyes open. He was thinking, thinking about what happened, about the reason of Kawamura's presence in the bed. He couldn't even remember why he was in this bed. He decided to leave before Kawamura could convince him to stay. He began to stand up and to walk away when a hand grabbed his wrist.

Kawamura was awake. His eyes were still sleepy. He looked at his friend; his lack of understanding was visible on his face.

"Are you leaving because you found me in the bed?"

Fuji looked at him, his eyes still open. Kawamura thought his friend wanted an explanation.

"I'm so sorry but you were having a nightmare. I tried to wake you up but I couldn't so I did what my mother used to do. I hugged you."

He lowered his head ashamed of his action, afraid of having lost his best friend.

"Ne Taka-san, I did the same thing with Yuuta. Did I say something during my sleep?"

Kawamura looked at him. He didn't know if he had to talk about what he heard. Fuji opened his eyes.

"Please Taka-san, don't hide things from me."

He blushed and lowered his head.

"Well, you talked about your father beating you, about your brother. You seemed really upset."

"I see. Thanks for telling me. Now I will leave and go back home. I'm really sorry for having disturbed you."

Fuji began to leave the room. He had his foot on the first step of the stairs when he heard Kawamura calling him.

"FUJIKO, wait a minute. You can stay here. I'm sure my parents won't mind. They like you a lot. I know you won't go home because you told me yesterday that your father kicked you out. I don't need to know his reasons. But if you want to talk about it, I will be here."

"Thanks for the offer Taka-san but I don't want to impose myself upon your family. I'll leave as soon as I get my clothes back."

The normally shy Kawamura stood up.

"NO! You won't leave."

Fuji's eyes snapped open. He didn't expect such an outburst from his usually shy friend.

"You won't leave because you are my friend and as your friend it is my duty to help you. After practice we will go to your house and retrieve your belongings. I won't take no as an answer."

"I don't know. Are you sure your parents won't mind my staying in their house?"

"If you want we can ask them during breakfast. But I' sure they'll agree."

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One hour later they were walking towards Seigaku Senior High School.

"See I told you they wouldn't mind."

"I'll help your father at the restaurant or I'll find a part time job. I don't want to burden them."

"As you want. I just hope you won't mind sharing my room. It's that or my sister. And I know she'll harass you because she is in love with you."

Fuji gave out a little laugh.

"I know but haven't you told her that she isn't my type of girl?"

"I did but she didn't want to believe me."

School went by quickly. Lessons after lessons, break after break, Fuji didn't have time to think about his parent's reaction.

Soon they were in front of Fuji's house. They rang. Mr. Fuji opened the door and seeing his eldest son he tried to close it. But Kawamura put his hand between the panel and the frame.

"We are here to pick your son's things. It won't take long."

They went upstairs and soon they were on the threshold. Fuji was carrying a big duffel bag and his tennis gear while Kawamura had two big suitcases.

"We are done father. Taka-san will come with his father to pick up my cacti."

Fuji exited the house. Kawamura tried to follow him but his friend's father prevented him from going.

"I hope you know what you're doing. Syusuke has a perverted mind. Let me tell you why I kicked him out."

"I don't want to know. If he wants to tell me, I'll listen to him. He is my friend, so I trust him."

"Fine but don't come to complain and say I didn't warn you."

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Three weeks later Fuji had managed to bring all his belongings at Kawamura's. He worked in the restaurant as a waiter and shared his friend's bedroom. He had his own futon and sometimes he was allowed to sleep in the bed while Kawamura would sleep on the floor.

One might think that everything was for the best but it wasn't the case. Fuji kept having nightmares, waking up wet in the middle of the night, his pillow stained by the tears he shed.

Kawamura kept comforting him and he never asked him about his problem. He knew Fuji would come to him if he felt the need to talk.

It lasted several weeks before Fuji gathered enough strength to come and talk to him. It happened on a Saturday evening just after they closed the restaurant.

Kawamura was cleaning his knives when Fuji came to him.

"Can I talk to you Taka-san?"

"Of course!"

He put his knives in the sink and gestured for him to follow him in the main room of the restaurant. Fuji sat and opened his eyes.

"My father kicked me out because he thinks I have an affair with Yuuta. It's false. He is my brother. I would never do that to him. You must believe me. I keep dreaming about my father beating me up because he thinks I'm molesting my own brother."

"You know I trust you. I've known you since our first year of Junior High. I know you are really close to your brother and you would never do him any harm."

"You're a great friend. I've something else to confess. I like boys. So if it disturbs you I can leave."

"Leave? I won't kick you out for that. If I do that I would have to ask my father to kick me out too."

"I don't understand."

"Well I like boys too. My parents know and they don't mind as long as I'm happy."

A comfortable silence fell between them. Then Fuji smiled. A true smile. The first one since he had been living with his best friend's family.

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By the time they left High School Fuji has moved in his own little flat and Kawamura went on living with his parents, slowly taking his father's place at the head of their restaurant.

They still met everyday because Fuji was still working as a waiter to pay his rent. When they weren't working they played tennis or met their Junior and Senior High friends in a café near Tokyo University.

Some were engaged, some moved away and some even cut all their links with their pasts. It might have hurt their feelings but it was life and they could do nothing about it.

They built their own little community. Well community may be a strong word but it was the way they felt about each other. They were a kind of family. Nevertheless nobody shared the link Kawamura and Fuji shared. Nobody understood it either.

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Five years later when a Kawamura in tears rang at Fuji's door late at night, nobody was surprised.

He was drenched from head to toe and when Fuji opened the door he couldn't help being surprised. He ushered his friend inside and made him put some dry clothes and drink a warm cup of coffee before asking him about his problems.

"Ne Taka-san, what happened?"

"The restaurant caught fire. It burnt till the ground."

"How did it happen?"

"Well I don't really know. I left to deliver some sushi and when I reached home all that was left were ashes. The firemen think it may have been caused by a cigarette or by someone who set it on fire. They won't know for sure before the end of the investigation."

"Oh my…. It must not be easy for you. I don't know if you'll agree but you can stay here and live with me until you find a new place to live in."

"Why would you do that for me?"

"Because a very good friend of mine once told me that he would always be there for me and I have decided to be always here for him."

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Last A/N: Kawamura may sound a bit OOC. It was done on purpose. I think that he had to be less shy and a bit more open as he is supposed to run the family restaurant. As this fic took place during Senior High he may have evolved this way.

I hope you like this fic and I'm sorry for the long wait….